January & February 2017 Books

Blogging the books I’ve read is a little odd. But I’ve started now so I’m going to keep it up. Habit > Logic and all than. Blogging like it’s 2001 again. I write these down so I’ll remember them, I think. Prettier list with covers and such on goodreads.

1 Human Acts, Kang Han
A far less depressing ending than I was expecting. Reasonably sure it needs a re-read.

2 Small Data, Martin Lindstrom
Interesting stories about weedling insights out of fridge magnet placement, unused toy arrangements and where we look in lifts.

3 Multiple Choice, Alejandro Zambra
Probably the nearest thing to poetry that will make it onto my list, having been put off poetry for life by secondary school interpretation boredom and the inability of anyone to give me a reasonable definition of ‘theme’. Enjoyed this greatly despite never having sat a Chilean exam before. I’ll be revisiting this from time to time.

4 Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
Classic of the month. Also, short, in an attempt to get a jump on the year. Not sure if the ‘outdated linguistic’ stuff is more or less jarring initially than it was in The Sellout. Not reading these cheapy prints again – I’m sure the slight fuzz and low contrast gave me a headache. #deepliteraryinsight

5 Walden, Henry David Thoreau
After the Humbolt book last year I’m keen to chew through some ‘old stuff’. Also, tired of missing Thoreau references in design talks. I kind of want to live in a railroad toolbox for a couple of months. Don’t think my back would cope though.

6 The Noise of Time, Julian Barnes
I grabbed this because of the Shostakovich stuff in Do Not Say We Have Nothing from last year. It reminded me a lot of HHhH. Felt very truthy.

7 Railsea, China Miéville
Depressing times calls for escapist sci-fi. Preferably set in a post nuclear bizarrofuture. I don’t think I enjoyed this quite as much as the City and the City – but it reminded me why weird stuff is more than just fun. Definitely going to catch up with my weird-fi this year and fill in some Miéville gaps.

9 The Russia House, John le Carré
I’d never read a le Carré spy book, grabbed this as part of a 3 for £10 offer and because it mentioned Russia. I’d ordered another bunch of le Carré before I’d even got half way through.